58 Mi_sh_k is musk. Mi_sh_kin-Qalam means either musk-scented pen, or
jet black pen.

59 Qur'an 61:4.

60 In some of this artist's productions, the writing was so arranged as
to take the forms of birds. When E. G. Browne was in Persia, he was
told that "these would be eagerly sought after by Persians of all
classes, were it not that they all bore, as the signature of the
penman, the following verse:

Dar diyar-i-_kh_att _sh_ah-i-sahib-'alam
Bandiy-i-bab-i-Baha, Mi_sh_kin-Qalam."

Cf. A Year Amongst the Persians, p. 227. The verse might be
translated:

Lord of calligraphy, my banner goes before;
But to Baha'u'llah, a bondsman at the door,
Naught else I am,
Mi_sh_kin-Qalam.

Note the wordplay on door, which makes possible the inclusion of the
Bab's name as well as Baha'u'llah's.

61 Ustad is a master, one who is skilled in an art or profession.

62 Qur'an 6:127.

63 Qur'an 3:28.

64 Qur'an 2:266, 267.

65 For some of these Arabic phrases, see Qur'an 3:170; 4:12, 175; 5:16,
17; 11:100, 101; 28:79; 41:35.

66 The Ba_gh_dad period in Baha'i history was from April 8, 1853 to May
3, 1863. According to various estimates the tuman of the day ranged
from $1.08 to $1.60.

67 This was in accord with the law of Islam. Cf. Qur'an 4:12.

68 Qur'an 7:171.

69 For the tribulations following Baha'u'llah's departure see God
Passes By, chapter XV.

70 Persia's Hercules.

71 Qur'an 89:27.

72 Qur'an 4:71.

73 Cf. God Passes By, p. 180.

74 Qur'an 89:27-30.

75 The Afnan are the Bab's kindred.

76 Qur'an 7:171.

77 Qur'an 39:69.

78 The Promised One of the Bab.

79 Islamic symbolism: Satan is the "stoned one"; with shooting stars
for stones, the angels repel demons from Paradise. Qur'an 3:31,
15:17, 34; 37:7; 67:5.

80 Qur'an 2:17.

81 Qur'an 4:71.

82 The Prime Minister.

83 Qum is the shrine city of Fatimih, "the Immaculate." Sister of the
eighth Imam, Imam Rida, she was buried here in 816 A.D.

84 The remainder of the verse is: "Let us split the roof of Heaven and
draw a new design."

85 Qur'an 52:4.

86 Cf. Qur'an 13:28.

87 Qur'an 3:190.

88 Cf. Qur'an 39:68.

89 Qur'an 7:171.

90 Manqul va ma'qul: "desumed" versus "excogitated" knowledge.

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